Turkana county government, Safaricom PLC and International Rescue Committee (IRC) representatives resolved to effectively use technology to improve digitization of the health systems and utilization of the internet in health facilities across Turkana County.
In a meeting hosted by acting County Secretary Joseph Nyanga, the organisations said they intend to incorporate smart water systems in boreholes, improve data collection, revenue collection, and analytics to support proactive decisions and increase the efficiency of water utilities in Turkana South.
The meeting follows a field visit by the two partners in the company of county officials to Ikore borehole as a Water and Sanitation (WASH) Project and Katilu Sub-County Hospital. The organisations have jointly supported such programmes across the county.
The visit in Turkana South was aimed at exploring the ability to use Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to identify areas with high malnutrition rates and through Community Health Promoters (CHPs), ensure clients receive treatment.
Of significance, was to explore the use of Closed User Group (CUG) by key referral focal points, bulk Short Messaging Service (SMS) and Toll-free lines by Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to enhance emergency referral services, sharing educational messages, and informing clients in remote or hard to reach areas in pastoral community on service offering points.
The acting CS lauded the interventions by Safaricom, IRC and other partners.
“It was a pleasure to bring onboard Safaricom PLC, in tapping its extensive expertise in matters technology,” he said.
County Secretary Nyanga, however, suggested sampling of projects visited would have been across all the sub-counties.
“I urge the two organisations to sample their projects from all the sub-counties, but more specifically from Turkana West, as a result of its ability to sustain many pastoralists, who might be beneficiaries of their technology-led programming in WASH and Health interventions during this dry spell of the year,” he added.
Recognizing the milestones achieved in “One Health Strategy”, the Chief Officer for Health and Sanitation, Janerose Tioko, called on Safaricom to come in handy to support the joint approach, owing to the withdrawal of USAID’s support; a global issue stopping foreign aid to needy countries in Africa.
Safaricom expressed willingness to support assuring their availability during outreach visits in issuing people with SIM cards when registering for services.
“The involvement of Safaricom in One Health Strategy and other initiatives, would boost the county’s registration of Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) coverage of Universal Health Coverage,” CCO remarked.
The strategy has recently recorded success stories in administering livestock treatment, human health, and social services closer to the far-flung pastoralist communities along the shared borders.
Joshua Ruto, the Team Lead for IRC underscored the significance of using technology to track projects in the field asserting that the use of technology to track projects and building on other information systems like GIS would produce innovative solutions in the health sector.
Echoing his sentiments, Edwin Juma, in-charge of Safaricom PLC in Turkana and West Pokot Counties, said Safaricom’s strategic partnership with IRC and County Government of Turkana should be seen as a major boost with the integration of technology in digitizing most of the programming interventions.
Moving forward, he added that there would be more sessions for co-creation with the county government officials.
County officials who graced the meeting include; James Lobokan (Director, Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Health), Nancy Nyanga (Deputy Director Partnerships, Health), Michael Aupe (Deputy Director, Resource Mobilization, Partnerships, and Donor Coordination) and Hebrews Idoka (Deputy Director, Social Protection).
IRC representatives included Majda Ganibegovia, John Kamau, and Goerginia Macharia, while Idah Gacheri and Wambuci Mjunji were from Safaricom PLC.
By Peter Gitonga
